General Program Description

The physical therapy program begins in August and is comprised of six semesters, each 6 months in length, of work. Degrees are conferred in May. The program admits only doctor of physical therapy degree students.

Clinical Experiences
First-year students have a 5-week clinical experience that occurs following the first academic year. These clinical experiences primarily are within the State of Tennessee. Second-year students have a 5-week rotation during the spring semester. Third-year students complete 24 weeks of clinical experience between September and May. The clinical experience sites for these long-term rotations are primarily located in the south and southeast United States.

Faculty
There are fourteen full-time faculty members. Of the full-time faculty 42% hold post-professional doctoral degrees and an additional 25% are enrolled in post-professional doctoral programs; 60% are certified by ABPTS as clinical specialists, and 90% are engaged in clinical practice. Over the past 3 years, the faculty has averaged 4.1 publications in peer-reviewed journals. The faculty to student ratio is 1:13.

Enrollment
Total enrollment at the University is 2,300 students. The program in physical therapy accepts up to 60 students per class.

Admission
Students are accepted after completing a baccalaureate degree and certain prerequisite courses. The mean grade point average for accepted students is approximately 3.6. Prerequisites include 12 semester hours of social sciences and humanities; 6 semester hours of psychology; 3 semester hours of statistics; and 8 semester hours in each: general biology, general chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology. Early decision deadline is August 15, soft application deadline is October 1, and regular application deadline is January 15 for the matriculation the following August. Interviews are conducted beginning in September for early admission, November for soft admission, and February for regular admission. A majority of seats in the class are filled following the soft admission deadline.

Outcomes
97.5% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average). 95% of the graduates passed the licensure exam (3-year average) with 86% on the first attempt; 98% of those program graduates responding to surveys are employed (3-year average).

Tuition, fees and financial aid
The average cost of attendance (tuition, fees, supplies, books, and living expenses) for Tennessee resident students is approximately $39,000 per year. The cost of attendance for out-of-state students is approximately $59,000 per year. Approximately 70% of the students in the program receive financial aid. For specific information, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Student life
Dormitories are not available on campus for students. However, there are ample off-campus apartments available within a 5-mile radius of the campus. The Fitness Center is located on campus and houses an indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, racquetball courts, saunas, whirlpool, aerobic exercise area, and weight-training facilities. On the south side of the campus, there is an outdoor recreational area that consists of softball, football and soccer fields, lighted tennis courts, and a jogging track. Intramural, recreational, and fitness-oriented activities are scheduled throughout the year.